Platinum(II) binding to metallothioneins.

The reaction of equine renal metallothionein (MT) with excess K2PtCl4 at pH 2 results in a polymeric adduct containing 17 +/- 2 mol Pt/mol MT. A monomeric adduct containing 7 mol Pt/mol MT is obtained at neutral pH. Rates of reaction of Pt7MT with DTNB and iodoacetic acid are consistent with Pt2+ to cysteine thiolate coordination, and the extent of reaction in both cases is 11 +/- 2 mol cys/mol MT. Adducts from the reaction of K2PtCl4 with apoMT chemically modified at the N-terminal methionine residue, Cd7MT, and native MT are also reported. A structural model of Pt7MT is proposed in which the square planar tetrathiolate Pt(II) unit is incorporated into a three-metal beta cluster. Implications for the metabolism of platinum anticancer drugs are discussed.